Newly admitted mature students
You’re in! Now what?
Congratulations on your admission to Concordia University! Carefully read your letter of admission, sent to you by email, to learn about what you need to do next as a Concordia student.
Course registration
For instructions on how to register for courses, follow our step-by-step guide.
Course prerequisites
Some courses at Concordia have a prerequisite requirement, meaning that the course requires you to first take the prerequisite (first) course before you take the next course. A common example is that MATH 201 or equivalent must be completed before taking MATH 203 or MATH 204.
You may have already fulfilled some prerequisites if you previously studied in CEGEP or another university. Some high school math courses will also fulfill some prerequisites.
If you want to take a course with prerequisites, you will need to show that you have already completed the prerequisite course.
- If you took a course in CEGEP that you would like recognized in order to take a higher-level course, please review the equivalencies and then submit this form (CEGEP course exemption request).
- If you took a high school or university class you would like recognized as a prerequisite, complete a Prerequisite Waiver Form. Prerequisite waivers can take two weeks or more, so don’t wait until the last minute to submit one.
- The processing of the forms may take up to 10 working days. Requests submitted within 10 working days of the final registration date (DNE) of the respective term may not be processed in time to register for the desired course(s).
TIP: If you have not previously completed certain prerequisite courses, it’s best to fit them into your schedule now, so that you have access to your desired course in a later semester. If it has been several years since you completed the prerequisite course, it is advisable to take the course again in order to have a strong foundation for taking higher-level courses.
“I don’t know what course(s) I should take.”
- Review your course sequence, and contact your academic advisor for course selection advice.
- If you are not sure what program is a good fit for you, a career counselor can help you explore your strengths, interests, and passions to guide you to the right educational path.
“I need help using Concordia’s online course registration system.”
- Read through the Course Registration How-To Guides.
- Contact the Welcome Crew Mentors, who can show you how to navigate the course registration system.
“The course I want to take is full.”
- Add yourself to the waitlist, if the course has one. In the first two weeks of classes, the waitlist will begin to move as students will be attending their courses and dropping them for different reasons. It’s important to watch your email and portal for updates on the waitlist.
- If the course doesn’t have a waitlist, frequently check the course registration numbers in case a spot becomes available.
“The course I want to take has spots available, but I can’t enrol in it.”
- Confirm that you have completed any prerequisite requirements for the course.
- Add yourself to the course waitlist if this option is available. Seats may open up closer to the start of classes.
- Contact the department offering the course to find out their policy for allowing non-program students to take the class.
“The course I want to take has a prerequisite requirement, so I can’t register.”
- Refer to the course description to check the prerequisite requirements.
- If you want to take a course with prerequisites, you will need to show that you have already completed an equivalent course. If you completed an equivalent course in CEGEP, submit a CEGEP course exemption request. If you believe you completed an equivalent course in high school or university, submit a Prerequisite Waiver Form with your transcripts.
- These requests can take up to 10 business days to process. Please take registration deadlines into consideration and submit your request as soon as possible.
Resources for academic success
While independent students are not admitted to a particular faculty, you can meet with academic advisors in each faculty for academic advising!
| Type of inquiry | Info to consult | Person to talk to |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t know what courses to take |
|
Contact your academic advisor or an academic advisor from your target faculty, if this is different than your current program. |
| Help using the system to register for courses | Read through the course registration How-To guides. | Contact the Welcome Crew Mentors. |
| Experiencing academic difficulty | Check the learning and study skills resources and events offered by the Student Success Centre. | Contact your academic advisor. |
| Advice about applying to a degree or certificate program and your eligibility | Contact an academic advisor from your target faculty. | |
| General questions about admission requirements for a degree or certificate; assistance with making applications | Check the admission criteria for each program and minimum program requirements. | Request a meeting with an admissions information officer in the Welcome Centre. |
| Faculty/School | Advising email address | Building address | Academic departments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and Science Student Academic Services TEL: 514-848-2424, ext. 2104 |
sas.fas@concordia.ca | AD 202 (LOY) | Arts & Science department advisors |
| Fine Arts Student Academic Services TEL: 514-848-2424, ext. 4612 |
finearts.sas@concordia.ca | EV 2.705 (SGW) | Fine Arts departments |
| Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science Student Academic Services TEL: 514-848-2424, ext. 3055 |
sas‑front‑desk@encs.concordia.ca | EV 2.125 (SGW) | Gina Cody School department contacts |
| John Molson School of Business Undergraduate Student Affairs Office TEL: 514-848-2424, ext. 2721 |
JMSB advising team | MB 4.201 (SGW) | Undergraduate Student Affairs Office |
Advisors can also be reached at the Student Service Station every Wednesday at 11:30 on Zoom.
The Student Success Centre offers academic, personal and professional support throughout your Concordia education. They provide many resources that are helpful to independent students, including:
- Welcome crew mentors
- New student orientation events
- Skill development workshops
- One-on-one tutoring or study groups
- Advocacy services
- Career exploration and planning
...and many more!
All of the Student Success Centre’s programming and resources are available to independent students.